Bench Build, Buick/Rover 3.5L

I'm just looking for any good info on these engines, including buildup info and power numbers these things can get. At this point, the only after market item I know of is the Edelbrock intake manifold.

Also any big differences between the early buick engines and the later rover peices.

Thank for your time

I think that there's an active yahoo group. A friend's got one in his Alfa. It's a pretty engine, and plenty light, but not cheap to build, although with the right combination of compenents you can get to 5 litres and 300 HP, it'll cost you serious bux to get there.

Sorry that's all I got.

I know of this:

http://www.roverv8engine.co.uk/index2.htm

OOOO, block capable of 6 liters that should get a dorr stop to move

neon, Practical Performance Car did a fairly in depth article on building the Buick/Rover engine for HP. I'll dig up the back issue and if you want, I'll scan it and email it to you.

ScottRA21 wrote: I know of this: http://www.roverv8engine.co.uk/index2.htm

beware websites showing cool stuff without published price lists!

Brian: I'd be interested in that article, if you don't mind.

My brother built up a Buick 215 a few years ago for a locost project that never happened. It's sitting in storage tempting me to find a home for it.

I dont remember all the details, but it didn't seem like a difficult motor to build. Perhaps a little difficult to find parts for, but doable.

IIRC, he used some 10:1 pistons (not sure where they were sourced from) a crane cam, edelbrock intake, with a small 4-bbl carb. We were expecting 200-220hp

I have a '62 Tempest LeMans that would love to be the new home to that 215...

If you have access to a bunch of stock engines or are a Rover tech (as I am) then mixing and matching with stock parts is a breeze. Start with a 99-02 4.6 from a Range Rover. Later Disco 4.6s had,um, issues with the block being misdrilled and eating oil pumps. 96 and up engines have cross bolted mains. 99 and up 4.6 cams have the same specs as the Crane aftermarket cam. Newer heads flow better and respond well to porting. Find a wrecked Calloway Range Rover and get heads that are pre-ported. Use an early Disco 3.9 front cover on a later engine to get a distributor-just remember to swap over the oil pickup too. You'll need a spacer between the crank gear and balancer-just grind the teeth of a spare crank gear. Mallory Unilites are better and cheaper than Rover units. The GEMS FI system can be used as a standalone and is easily chipped. Use a "Spider" from a D-90 to bypass the immobilizer. Manual trans bell housings are getting rarer but do exist. Use it to bolt up a TR8 5 speed or adapt it to an easier to find transmission. The serpentine belt systems are 10000 times better than the V-belt setups. Some D-90s had no A/C but instead of making idler pulleys they pluged the fittings and left the compressor on the engine! So if you want A/C find a wrecked non-A/C Defender and score a new never used compressor. Use the latest Rover gaskets and seals and it will go a long time between leaks. Thats just off the top of my head, any questions just ask.

I'm toying with the idea of building a Rover/Buick V8 for my old 924...

The plan would be:

1. Get a used-up Range Rover. Remove Buick/Rover V8

2. Pull the 302 from my "tow truck" Bronco and stick it in the Range Rover. Press said Range Rover into "tow truck" duty

3. Build Buick/Rover V8

4. Install Buick/Rover V8 in my old 924

5. Go real fast!

kreb wrote:

ScottRA21 wrote: I know of this: http://www.roverv8engine.co.uk/index2.htm

beware websites showing cool stuff without published price lists! Brian: I'd be interested in that article, if you don't mind.

Heh, never said I knew MUCH about it, just that I knew of it :D

Is the bolt pattern on the modern Rover block the same as the original Buicks?